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Older Americans Recognized, Saluted

By Judy Salamacha ~

Life’s best moments are fueled by a positive attitude. Just ask 90-year-old, Hollywood actress Betty White. “I may be a senior,” she said, “but so what? I’m still hot.”

Since 1963, the Central Coast Commission on Senior Citizens — Area Agency on Aging, has recognized several “hot” seniors during Older Americans Month. Board Member Jim Talbott reiterated the year’s theme, “Blaze a Trail,” to celebrate all the nominees for “…reinventing themselves through new work and new passions.”

Elana Peters and Rudy Xavier were named “Co-Citizens of the Year,” while SLO Commission on Aging Chairwoman, Kathleen Bellefontaine, and HICAP volunteer, Marian “Buff” Lawson, received “Honorable Mention” for their consistent dedication to senior programs.

Peters is a “…tireless volunteer and advocate for family caregivers and their aging loved ones…” serving as a member of the Paso Robles Adult Day Center’s Policy Advisory Council. She conducts two support group sessions a month for the Alzheimer’s Association and organizes the annual Fancy Hat Tea Party for SLO county caregivers, clients, and service providers.

She is also the author of “Hard Questions, Simple Answers,” a resource guide for older adults and their families.

Rudy Xavier used his marketing talents to expand awareness and build study-group participation for Lifelong Learners of the Central Coast. He presented more than 23 programs to groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Senior Centers; taught eight courses on how to deal with memory loss and dementia; and two courses on “generational communication.”

Three worthy senior citizen programs received top honors in 2016. Sonja Glassmeyer applied her post doctoral studies on brain health to create “Brain Aerobics,” a program motivating seniors to do something beneficial for their brains while having a good time.

Her project started at the Paso Robles Senior Center in 2010 and is now offered by Lifelong Learners of the Central Coast.

Since 1978, tables and chairs are set aside to make room for seniors in walkers, scooters, and wheelchairs at the Great American Melodrama hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Arroyo Grande Valley.

In 2015, more than 200 seniors were transported by Kiwanis members to be entertained at the annual holiday review and sing-a-long.

The Senior Legal Services Project, a program produced by the SLO Legal Assistance Foundation, was also recognized. Legal assistance for SLO county residents over-60 is provided particularly for the economically or socially disadvantaged, disabled and/or those in rural communities.

The project provided workshops, plus served 350 seniors at various senior centers and handled more than 600 callers with minimal staffing, notably Stephanie Barclay with the District Attorney’s Office.

Laura Garcia and Rita Harrigan received kudos as Caregivers of the Year. After retiring from a 30-year career in the care-giving profession, Harrigan continues to provide free services for the residents at Cortina D’Arroyo in Arroyo Grande, where she lives.

Garcia’s employer, Amdal In-Home Care, noted she is “…an exemplary employee. Her attendance and punctuality are something to be admired…[with] only three personal days during the year.”

Dr. Eugene Keller, M.D. was named the “Older Worker of the Year” for managing what he has learned over a lifetime providing patient care. Instead of retiring, his expertise was tapped as Dignity Health’s vice president of patient safety/risk/quality for all of Dignity Health’s Central Coast facilities — 30 clinics, three surgery centers, 11 imaging centers, 13 labs, and Home Health, Hospice and Infusion.

Richard Margetson, president of People Helping People of Los Osos, accepted the award for “Intergenerational Effort of the Year.”

In 2015, youth groups to seniors collaborated during the annual Needs ‘n Wishes fundraiser to donate $38,000 to the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter for the Homeless, Transitional Food and Shelter after hospital stays, and the Noor Free Clinic.

PHP volunteers also rang the bell to donate $16,000 for Salvation Army and distributed more than 100,000 bags of groceries and provided rent subsidies and tax assistance.

Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian was honored as “Public Official of the Year” for his nine years of helping SLO’s Senior Nutrition Program, plus his support on several bills in the Legislature benefiting seniors.

Freelance writer, columnist and author, Judy Salamacha’s Then & Now column is a regular feature of Tolosa Press. Contact her at: [email protected] or (805) 801-1422 with story ideas.

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